Best Time to Visit Yunnan

Yunnan has beautiful flowers, sacred snow-capped mountains, and amazing natural scenery. Yunnan is a place worth visiting for many times. So when is the best time to travel in Yunnan? Actually, it is suitable to visit every season as tourists will see different landscape in different season and in different destinations.
 

Xishuangbannan
 

Spring: What to Expect in Yunnan

In spring, the temperature in Yunnan is about 10-25℃, which is sunny and dry. Spring is the best time to enjoy the flowers blossoms in Yunnan.
 

Rape flower blossom in Luoping: Luoping County is located at the junction of Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces, which is one of the four major scenic spots for rape blossoms in China. February of the lunar calendar is the best time to enjoy rape flowers in Yunnan every year.
 

Rhododendrons blossoms at Cangshan Mountain: Rhododendrons blossoms is one of the highlights of Cangshan Mountain. Cangshan Mountain is known as the Rhododendron Garden, where there are 57 species of Rhododendron with as many as 16 colors. From the snowy area on the mountainside to the top of the mountain at an altitude of 4000 meters, there are colorful rhododendrons everywhere. Most of the rhododendrons at Cangshan Mountain are white, and there are also pink, yellow, red and purple rhododendrons at the Cangshan Mountain. May to July is the best time to enjoy the Rhododendrons blossoms at the Cangshan Mountain.
 

Jacarandas blossoms in Kunming: You can see the jacarandas blossoms at the streets of Kunming in spring.
 

Classic Yunnan Tour Route Recommended

10 Days Best Yunnan Tour

Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la

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Summer: What to Expect in Yunnan

Yunnan is cool in summer. With temperature of 15-28℃, there will be showers in Yunnan in summer. Yunnan is one of the most famous summer resorts in summer in China. Please note that July to August is also the summer vacations of schools in China, when Yunnan will be full of domestic tourists. Summer is also the season of wild mushrooms in Yunnan. If you are a mushroom lover, you can taste the freshest and most delicious wild mushrooms in Yunnan. The wild mushroom hotpot is very famous in Yunnan.
 

In Dali, you can cycle around the Erhai Lake at day, and you can also climb the Cangshan Mountain. As the landmarks of Dali, you can enjoy the highlight of the Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. You can also stroll around and explore the Dali Ancient City.
 

In Puer, you can know about the tea history and tea culture of China. Puer is the first World Cultural Heritage of theme of tea. And the Jingmai Mountain is the a living museum of the tea history in Puer. At the Jingmai Mountain, you can see the king of the tea tree, which has a history over 1,400 years. You can stroll around the mountain and breathe the fresh air. And you can taste a cup of tea of the Jingmai Mountain.

Dongchuan Red Land
 

Autumn: What to Expect in Yunnan

With temperature about 15-28℃, autumn is also ideal to visit Yunnan. The skies are clear in autumn, and you may have more chance to see the snow mountains like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Meili Snow Mountain. In autumn, you can see the golden sea of the ginkgo trees in Tengchong.
 

Yuanyang Terraces: Autumn is the most beautiful time of the golden rices at the Yuanyang Terraces. Layers of golden rice ladders spread across the mountains, and the morning light often forming beautiful light and shadow(Tyndall Effect). The sea of clouds, villages, golden ladders and the lights form a beautiful picture, making it preferred destination for photography and autumn outing.
 

Golden ginkgo trees in Tengchong: Ginkgo Village is the paradise of photography lovers. Yinxing Village, located in Gudong Town, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, is close to the National Volcanic Geopark, which is just like a bright pearl hidden in western Yunnan. You can reach Chenjiazhai Village, where ginkgo trees are the densest from the Ginkgo Square. This is definitely the perfect place to take pictures. The road is covered with golden ginkgo leaves, like a golden carpet. At the Ginkgo Village, you can also taste the local delicious foods cooked with ginkgo.

Dali Three Pagodas
 

Travel to Yunnan in Winter

Known as the Spring City, winter in Kunming is still warm, while some high-altitude areas are a bit cold. In winter, you can see the seagulls in Kunming and Dali. There will be water in the fields of the Yuanyang Terraces, making the terraces mirror-like.
 

Snow Mountains: Winter month offer clear skies, and you will have chance to see the Golden Sunrise or Sunset on the Meili Snow Mountain. On clear days, the sun shines on the snow mountains, forming the impressive view of the Golden Snow Mountain. People who witness the Golden Sunrise or Sunset on the Snow Mountain are thought to be very lucky. And you can also take the cable ways up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to enjoy the scenery of the glaciers.
 

Viewing seagulls in Kunming or Dali: In winter, you can enjoy the warm temperature in cities like Kunming and Dali. The breeding grounds of seagulls are mainly in Siberia, Xinjiang and Heilongjiang in China, and they will spend the winter in warm places in the south in winter. Dianchi Lake is the most densely populated area for wintering seagulls, and more than 40,000 seagulls come to Kunming for wintering every year.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces
 

Monthly Guide to Yunnan

January: Mirror-like Yuanyang Terraces
 

February: Rape flowers blossoms in Luoping
 

March: Enjoy the wonderful view of Dali
 

April: Water-splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna
 

May: Jacarandas blossoms in Kunming
 

June: Hiking at the Tiger-Leaping Gorge
 

July: Taste the freshest wild mushrooms in Yunnan
 

August: Cycling around the Erhai Lake
 

September: Visit the Napahai Grassland
 

October: Golden Yuanyang Terraces
 

November: Enjoy the Golden Sunrise or Sunset at the Meili Snow Mountain, Enjoy the Golden Ginkgo trees in Tengchong
 

December: Witness the seagulls at the Dianchi Lake
 

Climate Data Table for Yunnan